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,- UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. s'EARLE, or QUIDNIOK, AssIcNoR To ROBERT BARTON, OE PROVIDENCE, RHODE IsLAND.

BUTTON O R STU D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,404, dated July 17, 1883.

Application ledApril 30, 1833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. SEARLE, of Quidnick, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buttons or Studs; and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, to be a description thereof.

This invention consists in a button or stud the back of which is composed of an arm bent into substantially an L shape, and rigidly secured' to the button-head, and a second arm, similarly shaped,which is pivoted to the button-head or to the base of the iirst arm, and

has its pivotal end engaged by a spring or springs located in the button-head, whereby said arm is held in a position to retain the button in place, and also in position for the back to be inserted into the button-holes, as 'will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a rear view of a button embodying the invention, with the arms in position to retain the button in place. Fig.'2 shows a rear View of the button with the arms in position to be inserted into the button-holes. Figs. 3 and 4 represent side elevations of the button with the arms in the two said positions, respectively. Fig. 5 shows in perspective the back plate of. the button-head. Fig. 6 represents in perspective the movable arm. Fig. 7 shows the button being applied. Figs. 8 and 9 represent rear views of a modification, with the arms in different positions. Fig. 1 0 shows the back plate of the head of such button.- Fig. 1l represents the movable arm of such button.

A is the button-head, of any preferred shape, which is provided with a back plate, A, secured thereto. As particularly shown in Fig. 5, the inner surface of this plate is countersunk, so as to produce ears a, having cavitiesa. To these ears an arm, B, is rigidly secured, the said arm being bifurcated and bent into substantiallyan L shape. The cavities a in the plate A form a bearing for the pivotal pin b of an arm, B', which is hinged to the button-head, so as to swing between the legs of the arm B from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4; As particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the pivotal end of thearm B is enlarged, and the face b of said end is substantially at right angles to'the face b2. A spring, C, is located in the button-head, and bears at its ends on depressions in the plate A, and at its center on the pivotal end of the arm B, with which it is always in engagement, thereby holding said arm, by contact with the face b, in the position shown in Figs. l and 3, and also holding said arm, by contact with the face b2, in the position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5.

The arm B being in the position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, the button is applied by inserting the free end of the arm B into the button-holes and bringing the button-head in-4 to an'inclined position, as shown in Fig. 5, so that as the button-head is pressed toward the article to which the button is being applied, and is gradually brought parallel with such article,l as show n by dotted'lines, the arm B will pass through the button-holes and assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and thereby hold the button against accidental detachment.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a modification is shown in which the swinging arm B is""bifurcatcd,(instead of the arm B,) and two springs C are employed to engage its pivotal ends. The pivotal pin b takes bearing in a single ear, a., formed on the plate A, as shown in Fig. l0, to which ear the arm B is secured. rlhe action of this button is substantially the same as already described.

Although I prefer to provide the plate A with an ear or ears, a, to which the arm B is secured and in which the arm B is pivoted, yet, if desired, the plate A may be without ears, and the arni B be secured to the plate, and the arm B be pivoted to the arm B, near the base of the latter, in a manner easily to be understood.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A button or stud having a head, a bent arm, B, rigidly secured thereto, a swinging varm, B', pivoted to the button-head or to the armB, and provided with a cam-shaped end,

and a spring or springs, C, located in the butend with faces b and b2, and aspring or springs 1o ton-head, and adapted to engage the cain- C, located in the button-head, engaging the shaped end of the arln B and hold it open or pivotal end of the arm B and holding said closed, substantially as set forth. arm in its two positions, substantially as de 5 2. A button or stud having ahead provided scribed and shown.

with a back plate, A, furnished with an ear o1' THOMAS A. SEARLE. ears, a, a bent arm, B, secured to said plate in VitneSses: a xed position, a swinging arm, B, pivoted EDsoN SALISBURY JONES, in the ear or ears a, and having an enlarged ALFRED BARTON. 

